Chapter 17

Rose's POV

Rose sat bolt upright in her bed. Today was Christmas Eve. She jumped out of bed and threw on her quidditch clothes. She was most excited about seeing her friends from school, Scorpius, Alice, and Frankie. She didn't want to waste another minute. Rose ran downstairs to find her mum sipping tea while her dad was gathering quidditch equipment from the hall closet.

"Good morning, Dad," Rose said cheerfully.

"Mornin' love," replied Ron distractedly. He was muttering to himself and inhaling loudly. Rose knew something was bothering him and left him alone to go see if Hugo was ready to leave.

"It's nearly half seven," Hermione exclaimed from the kitchen. "We need to leave!"

Rose was already at the fireplace, holding her bag of gifts, ready to go. Hugo was still groggy from waking up and was leaning against Ron who was trying to hold all the quidditch gear in one arm and a bag of gifts in the other.

"Hugo, go with your sister," he said impatiently. Hermione packed one more gift into her magical handbag that could hold everything, looked at Ron, shaking her head, and asked him why he wouldn't just try charming the undetectable extension on your knapsack to hold all of the quidditch gear. He huffed some more and dropped everything he was carrying on the floor.

Ron pulled his wand out of his pocket, "Accio, knapsack." Ron's knapsack flew from his bedroom right into his outstretched arm. "What's the charm again?" he asked Hermione.

"Let me just do it, we're going to be late." Hermione waved her wand and cast a silent incantation over Ron's knapsack. The bag glowed for a couple of seconds before returning to what appeared to be normal. Hermione began grabbing the kids' quitch helmets and stuffing them into the bag. Ron knelt and put more of his things in the bag too.

"Get in the fireplace," ordered Hermione to Rose and Hugo. Hermione picked up the pot of floo-powder and let Rose take a pinch. "Keep your eyes closed, now go! We'll be right behind you."

Rose nodded and checked to see if Hugo was closing his eyes. She closed her own and shouted,

"The Burrow!"

Rose's feet hit solid ground and she opened her eyes to see her Grandma rushing in to pull them out of the fireplace, enveloping Rose and Hugo in a tight hug. She kissed them each on the top of their heads and finally let go. As she did Hermione arrived, stepped out of the fireplace, and then Ron appeared.

"Hello, mum!" Ron said smiling.

"Hello my dear," said Molly Weasley. "Come in, put your things in the sitting room - Percy is already here with Audrey and the kids. Still waiting on Bill, George, and Ginny. You've heard that Charlie won't be able to make it for Christmas this year, right?

"Of course Percy is already here," Ron whispered to Rose, rolling his eyes. Rose snickered. "Yes, mum," he added. "We are only here this early because of Hermione." Ron rolled his eyes at Rose again. Rose laughed but was glad they were here this early.

"What can I help you with, Molly," asked Hermione. Hermione had just come back from setting the Christmas gifts down in the sitting room.

"I've got a pot of coffee that needs to be brewed," said Grandma Weasley. "Kids, go tell your Grandad good morning. He's in the kitchen with the others."

Rose and Hugo took off to the kitchen. Grandad Weasley was sitting at the end of an extremely long kitchen table. Percy's wife, Audrey, was chopping potatoes. And young Molly and Lucy were setting plates out on the table.

Everyone cheerfully greeted Rose and her family as they entered the room. Hermione kissed Grandad Weasley on the top of his head and went over to help Aunt Audrey and brew the coffee.

"Rose, would you fill a pitcher with pumpkin juice for the kids?" asked Grandma Weasley. Rose nodded and took off to the muggle refrigerator at the end of the kitchen.

She was filling up a massive pitcher when Aunt Ginny walked in through the back door, followed by Uncle Harry, James, Lily, Albus, and Scorpius.

"Hello, all," Aunt Ginny addressed the room. Rose smiled at Scorpius and Albus, spilling some of the pumpkin juice on the table. Her ears went red. And she fetched a cloth to wipe it up. She looked at her father who was uncharacteristically quiet as his favorite family members entered the house and wondered if it was because of Scorpius.

Harry greeted his mother and father-in-law and said to everyone present that Albus had brought a friend. Then introduced the room to Scorpius Malfoy. Rose noticed the adults in the room stiffen. She looked at Scorpius, his face was subtly flushed.

"Hi, Scorpius," said Hugo loudly. Young Molly said hello as well, having met Scorpius on occasion at Hogwarts.

Just at that moment, Uncle George burst through the kitchen having just arrived through by floo powder with his wife, Angelina, and kids. The awkward moment quickly passed as the family began another round of hugs and kisses. Fred scooted around Grandma Weasley and went over to greet Scorpius, James, and Albus. Roxanne waved to the room and asked if they could start eating.

"Everyone can sit down and start eating," agreed Grandma Weasley. "I'm sure the rest will be arriving shortly."

Rose took a seat by the pumpkin juice pitcher and mouthed hello to Scorpius and Al. Her dad was sitting right next to her, practically staring a hole into the table. Grandma Weasley waved her wand with a flourish and pots of porridge, plates of bacon, and many other mouth-watering dishes floated to the table. Rose was in heaven. The smell of bacon seemed to bring her father back to reality. Ron reached for bacon, scrambled eggs, and potato hash.

"Grandma always has the best breakfast," Rose said to her dad.

"Mmmfff…" Ron returned, smiling with a mouth full of potatoes.

Albus and James were animatedly talking to Scorpius but Rose couldn't hear them from where she was sitting. She hoped she could talk to them without her dad noticing.

Aunt Fleur flowed in through the back door, followed by Teddy and Victoire, holding hands of course. Next in were Dominique and Luis. Uncle Bill pushed through the door with a large bag of gifts he was carrying and shut the door behind him. His hair was graying and his scarred face was becoming even more weathered with age.

"Is everyone ere?" Aunt Fleur asked, looking as gorgeous as usual with her silver blond hair, even in her Weasley jumper knitted by Grandma. "We got delayed in picking Teddy up. But we are ere now."

"Come grab a seat," offered Grandad Weasley.

Victoire broke away from Teddy and graced each of her cousins with a kiss on the top of their heads. She even gave one to Scorpius, who now truly turned pink. He looked down at his plate. Rose noticed Ron look over to Hermione, and make a "humph" sound under his breath. Hermione squeezed his hand.

Breakfast continued to pass pleasantly and soon people began getting up to put their dishes in the magically enchanted dishwasher that Grandad and Uncle Harry had worked on a couple of years ago.

Fred stood up on a kitchen chair and shouted over the crowd that it was time for the Weasley/Potter Christmas Quidditch match to begin and jumped off the chair and ran out the back door.

"Watch him come right back because he forgot his broom," sniggered Roxanne, making Rose laugh. Sure enough, Fred walked back in.

"I forgot my broom," he said, smacking his forehead.

"I told you so," Roxanne said to anyone who was listening. Uncle George and Aunt Angelina chuckled and went to help Fred gather all his equipment. Then everyone began to make their way out to a big open field. Rose was able to walk next to Albus and Scorpius as her dad went on ahead.

"Hi, guys!" she said smiling, and a little breathless from the cold air.

"Hi Rose," said Albus.

"How are you doing?" asked Scorpius, wearing a nervous smile.

"I'm great!" answered Rose.

"Did you ask Uncle Harry if you could be the seeker," Rose wondered aloud about Scorpius.

Albus answered for Scorpius. "Yeah, this is going to be grand."

The group broke off into two groups, those who were watching and those who were playing. Once everyone who was playing had gathered around the pitch, Harry moved to the front and turned to face his family.

"Now, as usual, we play until the first team reaches 10 goals or they catch the snitch. We are going to be playing a fair and safe game, I'm looking at you, James and Fred, I do not want to be carting anyone to St. Mungo's on Christmas Eve. Ginny, will you come up as captain of the opposing team?"

Ginny marched to Harry's side - broom in hand. It was a top of the line, Firebolt 5000.

"We will each call up players, no arguing about who's team you're on, okay George? Okay, Ron?" Harry chided in jest. "I'll play seeker and Ginny is playing chaser. I would like Ron to be my keeper, just like old times. James and Fred, you're beaters on my team where I can keep an eye on you. Angelina, Dominque, and Bill, will you all be my chasers?"

"That leaves me with you lot," said Ginny. "Albus and Luis, you will work with me, playing chaser. Goerge and Roxanne, beaters. Rose, you will be keeper, and Scorpius, you will be seeker."

"Who will be our referee and scorekeeper?" Harry asked the onlookers on the benches nestled against a line of trees by the edge of the field. Percy volunteered to be the referee and Hermione agree to keep score. And with that, the game was ready to begin.

Scorpius's POV

Scorpius mounted his broom. His nerves were making his heart race. He had only ever played against his father, Uncle Blaise, and his cousin Aiden. This was a full-on game with a family with some of Hogwart's finest from its Quidditch Hall of Fame and actual pro-league players.

Rose flew past him laughing. "Let do this, for Ravenclaw!" she shouted and sped off to the goalposts. Scorpius flew toward Mrs. Potter.

"Ok Scorpius, your game plan is to stay out of the way of Jame and Fred. And simply try to catch the snitch. Harry may act like he will take it easy on you, but he won't. If he sees the snitch, he will be on its tail." Ginny kicked off the ground and flew to the center of the pitch to shake her husband's hand. Percy opened the box of quidditch balls and blew a shrill whistle and the balls took off into the air.

Scorpius saw the snitch for a split second before it disappeared into the sunlight. He rose a little higher to view the other players, noticing Harry was doing the same. Ginny had the quaffle and was slipping in between the other team's chasers like a breeze. James was shouting something to Fred. Fred swung his beater and CRACK. Ginny's broom spun in the air and she dropped the quaffle, but Albus was trailing right under her and caught it mid-dive. He raced towards the goalposts and passed to quaffle to Luis who took a shot at the goal hoop on the right. Mr. Weasley smacked the quaffle out of the way and ended the play. No points yet.

This family does not play around, thought Scorpius. Watching everyone was not helping his nerves so he began drifting, eyes darting around to take in his surroundings. The snow was dazzling and the sky was grey, making it tricky to see where the snitch might be. Suddenly, Harry Potter shot down towards the ground, and Scorpius saw a glimmer of gold thirty yards in front of Harry. It was coming towards Scorpius. Without thinking, he knew he could cut Harry off if he recklessly dove straight down and leveled off at the last second. He burst into action, the free fall was exhilarating. Scorpius counted down, Three, two, one, and pulled up hard and shot forward. He spotted the snitch and was in front of Harry when suddenly James pulled up from the side and shoved him off course. Scorpius regained his balance but had lost track of the snitch. It seemed like Harry had lost track of the snitch too.

Harry shouted to Scorpius, "You ok?" Scorpius nodded, breathing heavily. "That was quite a dive you pulled off there," continued Harry. "My heart almost stopped for a moment. But good riding! You almost had it."

Albus zoomed past his father with the quaffle tucked in his arm. As lanky as he was, Albus was sure-handed and steady. He threw the quaffle to Ginny, who threw to Luis. Albus raced ahead to be there in time to catch from Luis. The tag-teaming paid off this time, as Albus slammed the Quaffle through the middle goal hoop.

Harry turned and flew up high again. Scorpius began a circling pass around the pitch looking up and down, trying not to get distracted by the dramatic game being played around him. Dominque had the quaffle and was speeding gracefully around, over, and under Scorpius's team. Angelina was waiting down the pitch for Dominique to pass. George and Roxanne were on Dominque's tail, but she passed the quaffle successfully to Angelina, and Angelina fainted a throw and took a shot into an unprotected goal hoop. Rose scowled.

A glimmer of gold swished past his face and began darting away as soon as it registered to Scorpius that it was the snitch. He took off after it. He couldn't tell if Harry Potter was close behind or not, but the world became him and the snitch. He was gaining on it. It angled upwards, higher and higher. Then it suddenly dived. Scorpius didn't have time to plan this dive, he relied on instinct. The snitch level off again fifty feet above the ground and darted between Albus and Roxanne. Scorpius shouted at them, and then zoomed out of the way. He was 10 feet from it now. It was zig-zagging, then took a sharp turn to the right, but Scorpius, on pure luck anticipated this. He reached out for the snitch and closed his hand around the small ball with beating wings. He did it. He caught the snitch!

A great big cheer went up from his team and a few from the other team. Everyone touched down to the earth and his team encircled him.

"Wow, Scorpius." began Rose. "That was amazing. You have to try out for the team next year!"

"That was wicked!" exclaimed Albus. "I had no idea you could ride like that."

"Quite impressive, young man," said Ginny, smiling as Harry walked over toward them.

"That was a great game, Scorpius," Harry congratulated. Harry shook Scorpius's hand with vigor. "If you play like that at tryouts next year, they will have a hard time finding a better seeker."

"Best two out of three!" shouted Fred, running toward the small gathering in the middle of the pitch.

"Okay, Fred," replied Harry, but we will break for half an hour before the next round."

Scorpius began walking towards the benches on the edge of the pitch with Rose and Albus. Rose's dad and uncle with a massive scar on his face were making their way towards the benches too. Scorpius noticed that Neville, his wife, and Alice and Frankie had arrived during the game. They both ran out to meet Scorpius and his friends.

"What a catch, Scorp," stated Frankie. "Too bad you're not in Slytherin so we could have you on our team."

"That's what I'm saying!" agreed Albus, clapping Scorpius on the back.

"Well, I for one am happy Ravenclaw has a fantastic seeker," interjected Rose. She gave Alive a big hug.

"It's so good to see you!" cried Alice. Alice then turned to hug Scorpius and Albus at the same time. "My dad wants to tell you all hello"

They walked back to the group of people crowding around the benches. Someone Scorpius couldn't name handed him and his friends a mug of hot cocoa. This was going to be a wonderful day.

Ron's POV

Ron jumped off his broom. The little spawn won the match. He walked off the pitch. His eldest brother, Bill, walked up beside him.

"I never would have thought that our family would be friendly with the Malfoy's at all," mused Bill. "That was some catch he pulled off though. Got to give it to him."

Ron grunted and said, "It's not by my choice. Harry allowed his son to invite him." He scowled some more.

"Ah Ron, just try to enjoy the day with the family," advised Bill.

Ron saw that Neville and his family had arrived. It would be good to catch up with him. It had been weeks since they'd had a chance to go out for a pint. Neville, however, was not heading towards the group of adults, rather, he was on his way to talk to the children.

Once a teacher, always a teacher," Ron thought to himself . It had been years since Neville had been on the team of Aurors with himself and Harry. Those years in their twenties were wild and exciting times. Things changed when Neville got his post at Hogwarts, Harry had been promoted to Head Auror, and they all started having children. Now, he only occasionally went into the Department of Magical Law Enforcement to help on cases, but he was doing so less and less as the years passed. The stress of being an Auror had started wearing on Ron, physically and especially mentally, so he had begun helping George at his joke shop in Hogsmeade. Ron got more joy out of making children smile...well most children.

Neville had finished speaking to the kids and marched through the snow over to Ron.

"Hello old friend," Neville exclaimed, gripping Ron in a brotherly hug. Ron hugged him back.

"It's good to see you," replied Ron.

Ron saw Harry leaving his little team and make his way towards them. He had not forgiven Harry for the confrontation the other day.

"Neville!" greeting Harry.

"That was quite a game!" expressed Neville. "We arrived 5 minutes after it started. I'd wager that Ravenclaw might have a chance of winning the cup next year if Mr. Malfoy makes the team."

Ron was aware that Harry was replying, but he did not hear what was said.

Ravenclaw might win the cup. Malfoy makes the team. Malfoy. Ravenclaw….Rose is in Ravenclaw.

"Hold the bloody hell up…" Ron looked at Neville and then to Harry. And then back to Neville. Neville raised his eyebrows in question. "Are you telling me, the carbon copy of our enemy, is not in Slytherin?

"Yes," Neville answered. "He is in Ravenclaw and is friends with students from all of the Houses. Including my own kids. I am glad our children have a good friend." Neville nodded his head to Ron and Harry.

"...Wait... WHAT? Rose is friends with him at school too?!"

"From what I've seen, they help each other study and are often with Albus. Ron, it's really not that big of a deal."

"So, he's in every class with my daughter, they study together, what else!" exclaimed Ron.

Harry looked like he'd rather be chatting with the other women and had cast his eyes down. "Look, Ron," started Harry. "You're blowing this out of proportion. Maybe you need a moment to process."

"I can't believe this," Ron began talking to himself. "I told her not to get any ideas and to beat him in every class. Not to befriend him.

"Ron," began Nevile. "Scorpius is not like his father. He is bright, intelligent, and is kind to others. He is one of my best students."

Ron turned and walked away. He couldn't be around everyone right now. He couldn't look at Malfoy's kid, fraternizing with his daughter. He started back to the house.